Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Norris in wishing every success to President Higgins on his state visit to the UK and to Queen Elizabeth. It was an emotional moment at 12.22 this afternoon to hear Amhrán na bhFiann being played by the band of the Irish Guards in Windsor. It brought hope of better times to replace so much sadness in Anglo-Irish relations.

A most useful meeting of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association was held in Stormont on Thursday and Friday last, which was expertly chaired by the Cathaoirleach and the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. William Hay. The association will return here in October. In thinking of the improvements in relations, one must pay tribute at all times to former Presidents, McAleese and Robinson, who paved the way and to Queen Elizabeth who has been there throughout this period and who suffered sad losses herself.

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery Dr. Cormac O'Dea from the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London by way of Cambridge and Trinity College. He is one of our increasingly distinguished economists. Yesterday, Professor Louden Ryan celebrated seven decades as a scholar in Trinity College. He was always at the side of Dr. T. K. Whitaker in the reform of the country's economic policies and he made a most valuable contribution. He is a native of Portadown and he truly served the island of Ireland. We depend on such people to help us in our present difficulties.